Monday, 6 January 2014. A jobless couple wrote a letter to Silvio Berlusconi about their miserable condition, and get in reply 50,000 euro from the former prime minister of Italy. It's in the news.
Santa's hat, a headgear Berlusconi hasn't worn yet (we Photoshopped it, as you might have noticed)
Hitherto to get private donations from Silvio Berlusconi you had to be a sexy young woman like the Ruby the Heartstealer or the other “olgettine”, as the billionaire said he wasn't able to “take care of personal situations”. Now something has obviously changed, and the money of the former prime minister of Italy seems not to be just a prerogative of the Berlusconi women, as the local newspaper Il Gazzettino reported on Monday. It could be due to the Christmas atmosphere, or (as Silvio's enemies might think) just to the lack of better arguments in his struggle to gain visibility, avoid jail and stay alive after being convicted for tax fraud and subsequently being expelled from the Senate of Italy.
Ruby the Heartstealer received from Silvio Berlusconi "money and jewellery" in exchange for sex, according to Milan's judges
Thursday, 21 November 2013. Milan's court publishes details of Berlusconi conviction, is bunga bunga parties and his exchange of money and jewellery for sex with under-age dancer Karima el Mahroug (aka Ruby the Heart Stealer).
The proceedings about the sex scandal that involved Silvio Berlusconi ended up with a seven-year sentence, appeal pending. It's no more on the news, as it happened last June, but now new details have been disclosed about the sex scandal, as the Milan's court published a 350-page document about testimonies, bunga bunga parties and – of course – lots of women. The former prime minister of Italy will also be banned from public office for life (if he fails to win the appeal to the sentence), a problem that adds up to Berlusconi's woes: on Wednesday the Senate will decide whether to expel him from the Italian parliament, in the wake of his conviction for tax fraud (no appeal pending, this one is definitive).
Saturday, April 16 2011. Congresses Palace's Auditorium, EUR (Rome). Silvio Berlusconi admits not being immortal and vows not to quit his war against the judicial power. The Rome's EUR District is hardly the right place for predicting the future. It was planned in 1938, when Benito Mussolini foresaw the World Fair to be held in Rome in 1942, and therefore decided to create the Esposizione Universale Roma (or E42). It never happened, and it was partially due to his own behaviour.
Silvio Berlusconi in Rome
Though, yesterday the president of the Freedom People Party (PdL, Popolo delle Libertà), Silvio Berlusconi, told the crowd of his party supporters about his premonition: "I'll make it to 120 years, even though I'm still a mortal being". Actually the real surprise was that he admitted not being immortal (a sign of great modesty). The main message he delivered was: “I won't quit” and that he'll keep on fighting against the subversive judiciary power. (yet, a few days before, during a dinner with foreign correspondents, he said that he has designated Angelino Alfano, current justice minister as his political heir...). Anyhow.
"Red Brigades out of the Public Prosecutors' offices"
says this billboard in Milan
Yes, the magistrates are the real problem. It's a kind of war of good against evil. “They've been trying to get rid of me for 17 years” said Berlusconi. And carried on explaining how they cut down did five parties, back in 1993. “The did in a leader called Bettino Craxi” by accusing him of having amassed a fortune, which wasn't true.
They bumped off Berlusconi's government in 1994. And so one. They are the real problem in Italy. But they have not succeed to prove anything against him (so far). That's also the reason why he needs to cut the length of trials with a new bill which “maybe, maybe can shorten a trial of mine”. He was referring to the conviction of the English commercial solicitor David Mills, which was due only to the fact that “he's a loser”.
Michela Brambilla and Daniela Santanchè
The meeting in Rome was part of a tour titled “Al Servizio degli Italiani” (“At service of Italians”), supported by an Internet site, and organised by Michela Vitotria Brambilla (another woman who might be held as a potential political heir to Silvio, she previously organised the Freedom Circles), Minister and MP.
What would be of Silvio Berlusconi without his women?
What's the goal of this Flying Circus Circuit? Create a new network of PdL offices and support the fight against the crusade against the subversive powers.
Monday, 21 March 2011. Milan. New leaks from the Rubygate investigation. At least 33 women are involved with Silvio Berlusconi's "flamboyant life".
Iris Berardi
New details – and pictures (allegedly taken by model Barbara Guerra's mobile phone) – have been leaking in the past days about Mr Berlusconi's flamboyant way of living and hot nights, target of an investigation called Rubygate, from the name of Ruby Rubacuori (nick name for Karima Rashida El Mahroug), the Tunisian girl (later it would turn out she is actually Moroccan) the Italian prime minister might have paid for sex whilst she was still a minor.
The other under-age girl being Iris Berardi, a brazilian showgirl and possibly a prostitute.
Karima Rashida El Mahroug
(aka Ruby Rubacuori)
Allegedly Arcore's Villa San Martino hosted dressing-up (and down) parties, where female guests played different roles: AC Milan's players (specially Ronaldinho and his buck teeth), policewomen, nurses and so on.
Prosecutors linked at least 33 women to the 74-year-old Italian politician. Next month the first of a series of hearings will be held in Milan.
The proceedings are likely to linger on for quite some time.
Perhaps in an attempt to disguise his real identity, some of Berlusconi's women (like former show-girl and dental hygienist and now politician Nicole Minetti) gave up the Papi (Daddy) nickname and called the politician Betty (yes, it's a female nickname in Italy too!). Is't that funny?
Nicole Minetti
The investigation seems to have clarified the bunga-bunga price list that was in use during the Arcore's hot nights:
- 2,000 euro (around £1,750, $2,835) were paid to the girls for the mere participation to the evening;
- 5,000 euro (about £4,370, $7,085) were granted for those who - after the dinner - were to participate to the bunga-bunga party, in the discotheque underground;
- up to 7,000 euro (£6,115, $9,920 circa) was (allegedly) the reward for the chosen one, who would spend the night with “Betty” and... more bunga-bunga.
The date of the begin of the proceedings is April 6, 2011.
Sunday, 25 January 2009. Sassari (Sardinia). Silvio Berlusconi, Il Cavaliere, admits he hasn't a clue about how to solve the problem of rapes in Rome and other Italian cities.
Following a series of sex related assaults carried out around Italy, reporters questioned the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi about the possibility of deploying army troops to defent women and curb sexual crime.
Berlusconi laughing with fans (female fans, of course)
The politician replied by saying that there would be the need to send as many soldiers as there are beautiful girls and women in country.
So, Italy would need millions of soldiers, not just 300,000 units an initial the proposal stated.
People shouldn't forget that Silvio remarks are often made with a sense of "levity", as the president billionaire pointed out later. Oh, he can be so funny, Silvio Berlusconi.
Saturday, 14 September 2002. Silvio Berlusconi is in Camp David, officially visiting the USA. The Italian politician makes a speech in English and US President George W Bush gets quite impressed by his knowledge of foreign languages.
After a year from the 9/11 terrible attacks upon New York City and the Pentagon, Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi travelled to the United States of America in order to meet up with president George W Bush.
Who's the guy on the left? Tony Soprano or Silvio Berlusconi?
The two fellow politicians are notably good friends. The main reason of the visit was to thoroughly discuss steps to be taken regarding the war on terrorism, the (apparently) related situation in Iraq and how to handle the whole thing at the United Nations.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009. L'Aquila, Italy. The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi advise the earthquake victims to take it easy and be happy.
In the aftermath of one of the most devastating earthquakes in many years, leaving 17,000 homeless and killing 260 people (including 16 children*), president Silvio Berlusconi toured some of the tent sites around central Italy Abruzzo's capital L'Aquila, as well as the severely damaged historical downtown.
Berlusconi's Fire Brigade
Wearing a fireman's helmet (Silvio's headgear can be quite varied), he surveyed, met local people, bestowed wise advices.
When interviewed, the Italian prime minister admitted that the lodgings where "a bit" temporary, but suggested that the tent sites' inhabitants should "see it as a weekend of camping", since they did not "lack anything".
"They have medicaments, food and shelter for the night" declared an optimistic Silvio to the media (he was being interviewed by a German television channel), unable to understand why people seemed to be so gloom.
Actually earthquake-stroke people tend to see the dark side of things and perhaps they should heed good advices form Italian Silvio and try and look on the bright side of things.
Or - as someone suggested - the Italian prime minister and the media billionaire was not completely serious and he just meant to play an April Fool's trick, in order to alleviate a bit of strain? Or he just wanted to add a new witty remark to the long list of infamous Berlusconi's quotes? You can never know, with such a flamboyant and funny prime minister...
*Unfortunately the final number of casualties will rise, up to 309 people.
Saturday, 4 April 2009. Baden-Baden (Germany), along the Rhine river. The Italian politician-entrepreneur Berlusconi keeps hanging the Nato summit host Angela Merkel whilst talking on the phone.
President Berlusconi this time holds up the start of a NATO summit and keeps hanging the Chancellor of Germany, who's receiving the guests of the meeting. He gets off his car, Angela Merkel's looking forward to greet him and shake hands with him, but Silvio just can't hang the phone (as he explains, with clear gestures to the host of the meeting. Once again, funny stuff from Berlusconi).
Nato leaders then cross the pedestrian bridge over the Rhine - with Merkel and Obama in front line - in order to meet France's President Sarkozy. Believe it or not, Silvio is on the phone, whilst strolling around. And the puzzled Mrs Merkel has to start the event's opening ceremony without Italy's Berlusconi.
Over the telephone
In his defence, the Italian Prime Minister was talking to Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey's Prime Minister) and the call was pertinent to the summit, but we can assume he could have found a way to manage it in a snappier way.
Saturday, 19 February 2011. Italy's Capital historical centre. The Italian politician-entrepreneur meets up with the journalist, a relaxing moment with Silvio Berlusconi. Or is it?
Enrico Mentana, Director of TG La7
Silvio Berlusconi and Enrico Mentana (former anchorman of Berlusconi's TG5 and Matrix TV programmes and now news director at La7, Italian niche TV channel) bump into each other centre of Rome.
The Italian Prime Minister's armour-plated car is leaving Palazzo Grazioli, his residence in Rome. Mentana is strolling around with his family.
Silvio Berlusconi spots his former employee, stops the procession, gets out of his car to greet him. Big smiles, hand shaking (apparently they both forgot any previous conflict. And they did have conflicts*!), then the Premier starts a small talk with the youngest of Mentana's children, sitting on the journalist shoulders: «You're such a big girl, you shouldn't need to suck a dummy».
